does since take a past progressive?

[ostap77]

" It has been a long time since I was sewing, way to long."

Would this sentence be acceptable? Grammar text-books don't say we can use "since" with a past progressive like this.

 

[bhaisahab]

" It has been a long time since I was sewing, way to long."

Would this sentence be acceptable? Grammar text-books don't say we can use "since" with a past progressive like this.

No, it's not acceptable. "It's been a long time since I've sewn..." is correct.

 

[BobK]

:up: But of course 'since' can be followed by a past progressve, in the appropriate context:

• Without past reference: 'Since he was going that way, he gave her a lift home'
• With past reference: "Since he was sleeping alone at the time, he couldn't provide an alibi witness

b

 

[Kotfor]

" It has been a long time since I was sewing, way to long."

Would this sentence be acceptable? Grammar text-books don't say we can use "since" with a past progressive like this.

Indeed. It's an interesting question. I have tried to find more examples in the cyberspace and i have succeeded in it. So, it leaves me wondering whether it's a deviation from the classical rules or ..... well I don't know....

 

[Kotfor]

No, it's not acceptable. "It's been a long time since I've sewn..." is correct.

I would like to know what difference would be (if any) between


1) "It's been a long time since I've sewn..."
2) "It's been a long time since I sewed.."

 

[cubezero3]

No, it's not acceptable. "It's been a long time since I've sewn..." is correct.

Perhaps it's also correct to say "It's been a long time since I sewed..."?

 

[Kotfor]

Perhaps it's also correct to say "It's been a long time since I sewed..."?

I am pretty sure it is correct. But I would like to know the difference.

 

[BobK]

Depends what you mean by 'correct' ;-). Most teachers of Br English about 50 years ago would have insisted that using a simple past after 'since' was wrong in a case such as this. Prescriptive ones still do.

b

 

[birdeen's call]

Depends what you mean by 'correct' ;-). Most teachers of Br English about 50 years ago would have insisted that using a simple past after 'since' was wrong in a case such as this. Prescriptive ones still do.

b

What are their reasons? I know about this usage but I can't see the logic behind it.

 

[bhaisahab]

What are their reasons? I know about this usage but I can't see the logic behind it.

Since X means from X until now, so the present perfect is appropriate.

 

[birdeen's call]

I don't understand this reasoning. What is the X? Isn't it a point in time?

Since 1958... is similar to Since I saw...

It's not similar to Since I have seen...

 

[bhaisahab]

I don't understand this reasoning. What is the X? Isn't it a point in time?

Since 1958... is similar to Since I saw...

It's not similar to Since I have seen...

"I have lived here since 2010". I started living here in 2010 and I still live here now.
"It's a long time since I have sewn". The last time I sewed anything was a long time ago, from that point in time until now, I haven't sewn anything.

 

[engee30]

"I have lived here since 2010". I started living here in 2010 and I still live here now.
"It's a long time since I have sewn". The last time I sewed anything was a long time ago, from that point in time until now, I haven't sewn anything.

This is how I see it:
It's (been) a long time since I have sewn. = I haven't sewn anything for a long time.

 

[ostap77]

"I have lived here since 2010". I started living here in 2010 and I still live here now.
"It's a long time since I have sewn". The last time I sewed anything was a long time ago, from that point in time until now, I haven't sewn anything.

"Well I did got my antique roses quilt done!!!! Yea~~~ I just need to add another border but not sure what yet. But so glad it is more or less done. I also got the rag quilt done all except the clipping. I'm so not looking forward to doing all of the clipping. I did up 2 pillowcases plus a purse/tote. Finally got some major sewing done. Gosh it felt so good to get somethings done. It has been a long time since I was sewing, way to long. Now I just need to put my sewing room back together. I'm collecting a laundry basket of things to get rid of so hopefully I can add to that today. clutter drives me nuts sometimes, just feels like you can't breathe. It becomes overwhelming to me when it piles up, feels like you don't know where to begin at times. So I try to keep it under control. I feel if you keep it under control you use less time keeping things organized, i have more time to do what I love or want to do. I guess it is a control thing with me, LOL. I hope you all are having a good week & doing some sewing~~~~

That's where I got it from.

 

[birdeen's call]

Bhaisahab, I think I see what you mean. Is it that

It's a long time since I have sewn

means the same as

I haven't sewn for a long time

and because it's obvious that we use "haven't sewn" in the second sentence, we must use "have sewn" in the first?

PS: Engee seems to understand bhai's reasoning the same way I do. But do you agree with it, engee? I'm still not convinced.

 

[Kotfor]

Guys, could someone explain to me the difference between -

1) "It's been a long time since I've sewn..."
2) "It's been a long time since I sewed.."


Is there any difference in meaning?

 

[ostap77]

Bhaisahab, I think I see what you mean. Is it that

It's a long time since I have sewn

means the same as

I haven't sewn for a long time

and because it's obvious that we use "haven't sewn" in the second sentence, we must "have sewn" in the first?

PS: Engee seems to understand bhai's reasoning the same way I do. But do you agree with it, engee? I'm still not convinced.

There is a lot of stuff that is not grammatically correct.

 

[engee30]

Guys, could someone explain to me the difference between -

1) "It's been a long time since I've sewn..."
2) "It's been a long time since I sewed.."


Is there any difference in meaning?

You're appearing to have missed BobK's post #8.

 

[Kotfor]

Well, I don't think that it was a full answer. He said about the "Prescriptive ones". It means that there are some who are not so prescriptive. Apart from that he didn't say that it was wrong. In fact, there are tons of examples with this kind of combination of tenses.

- I've loved her ever since I came here.
- It's been a long time since a candidate for governor in the state of Kentucky has spread around so much money and made herself so available to so many people.
- It's been a long time Since I looked into your eyes.
- It's been a long time since I felt like we were kids again.

Apart from that if we start digging we will find that there are quite a few things which used to be used in a different way 50 years ago. Just take - SHALL and WILL for example. I am pretty sure that

PRESENT PERFECT + PAST SIMPLE is a perfectly fine sentence

 

[BobK]

:up:
Or...

What are their reasons? I know about this usage but I can't see the logic behind it.

...as Pascal:?: so nearly said, Les préscriptivistes ont leurs raisons, que la raison ne connâit pas. ;-)


b